GOLDEN KNIGHTS RALLY TO EARN SERIES-CLINCHING WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS
The Golden Knights overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 and Alex Tuch scored the go-ahead goal at 1:34 of the third period as Vegas earned a series-clinching win over Chicago and advanced to the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time since its inaugural season in 2017-18. The Golden Knights became the third franchise in League history to earn at least one series win in two of its first three NHL seasons, joining the Rangers (1927 – 1929) and Blues (1968 – 1970).

* Vegas overcame a multi-goal deficit to win a postseason contest for the third time in franchise history, with the first two instances occurring during the Stanley Cup Qualifiers: Aug. 3 (5-3 W vs. DAL) and Aug. 6 (6-4 W at STL). The Golden Knights became the third different franchise in NHL history with three multi-goal comeback wins through their first eight games in a postseason, joining the Bruins in 1943 as well as the North Stars in 1968 and 1985.

* Tuch scored his fourth career game winner in the postseason and second this month following his overtime goal versus Colorado in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers (also Game 5 of 2018 R2 & Game 3 of 2018 CF). Tuch, who owns the most playoff game-winning goals in Golden Knights history, is one of four NHL players with four since 2018 (also Tomas Hertl, Nathan MacKinnon & Paul Stastny).

* Robin Lehner (23 saves) earned the series-clinching win versus his former team and improved to 5-1 in six appearances this postseason (2.44 GAA, .904 SV%). Lehner became the second goaltender in NHL history to earn a series-clinching win against a team that he played for earlier in the same season, joining Boston’s Hal Winkler in Game 2 of the 1927 Semifinals against the Rangers (3-1 W).

HART’S RARE FEAT BACKSTOPS FLYERS TO 3-1 SERIES LEAD
After he turned aside all 23 shots he faced in Game 3, 22-year-old Carter Hart (29 saves) followed that up with another perfect performance in Game 4 and became the second-youngest goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive playoff shutouts, behind 18-year-old Harry Lumley (Game 5 & Game 6 of 1945 SCF).

* Hart also became the fourth goaltender in NHL history to record back-to-back shutouts before age 23, joining the aforementioned Lumley, Terry Sawchuk (2x; age 22 in 1952 w/ DET) and Felix Potvin (age 22 in 1994 w/ TOR).

* Hart, who became the third goaltender in Flyers history to post consecutive playoff shutouts, has not allowed a goal in 120:00 – the seventh-longest postseason run by a Philadelphia netminder and longest in a decade since Michael Leighton did not allow a goal for 172:55 during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.



OVECHKIN, CAPITALS RALLY TO FORCE GAME 5
Alex Ovechkin accounted for two of the Capitals’ three unanswered goals as Washington overcame a 2-0 deficit to stave off elimination and force Game 5 in its First Round series. The Capitals rallied from a multi-goal deficit to win a contest where they faced elimination for the third time in franchise history, following Game 7 of the 1988 Division Semifinals (5-4 OT W vs. PHI) and Game 6 of the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 W at PHI).

* Ovechkin scored his 68th and 69th career postseason goals (69-62—131 in 135 GP) to leapfrog Gordie Howe (68-92—160 in 157 GP) and Sidney Crosby (68-121—189 in 168 GP) for sole possession of 18th place on the NHL’s all-time list. He sits one back of matching Steve Yzerman (70-115—185 in 196 GP) for 17th, who he passed on the League’s all-time regular-season goals list earlier this year on Jan. 29.

* Ovechkin scored his 12th and 13th career goals in games where his team faced elimination (13-11—24 in 25 GP). He now trails only five skaters for the most career goals when facing elimination in NHL history, including current Hurricanes forward Justin Williams who can add to his total today (15-13—28 in 25 GP).

DID YOU KNOW?
With the Capitals’ win, only one of the 16 series contested thus far in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been completed in a sweep (CAR: 3-0 vs. NYR).

* There only have been 12 total sweeps in the 106 playoff series since the division-focused format was introduced in 2014 (11.3%). Thirty of the 99 completed series over that span have required the maximum amount of games (30.3%).

KLINGBERG SCORES GO-AHEAD GOAL AS STARS GO UP 3-2
John Klingberg, who assisted on the overtime winner in Game 4, scored the go-ahead goal at 1:12 of the third period as Dallas went up 3-2 in its First Round series with Calgary. The Stars hold a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 19th time in franchise history – they went 15-3 in the 18 previous series, including 13 instances where the clinching win was earned in Game 6.



* Klingberg scored his third career game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (also Game 6 of 2019 R1 & Game 4 of 2019 R2) to move past longtime North Stars stalwart Lou Nanne (2) for the most by a defenseman in franchise history. His three postseason game winners since making his playoff debut in 2016 are tied for the most among all blueliners over that span (w/ Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson & Shea Weber).


QUICK CLICKS

* Dale Hawerchuk mourned by Wayne Gretzky, hockey world
* Dale Hawerchuk's banner temporarily relocated to True North Square
* Ryan O'Reilly 'doing everything' for Blues in West First Round against Canucks
* Inside the Bubble Blog: In full clincher mode in Edmonton, Toronto
* Dale Hawerchuk facts and figures

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION
Wednesday features a five-game slate and includes four teams holding a 3-1 series lead with the chance to advance to the Second Round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Teams that hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series own an all-time series record of 279-29 (.906), including a 1-0 mark in 2020.

* When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 owns an all-time series record of 211-58 (.784).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.